Windows
2 options- In Word / Outlook: type 2196 then press Alt + X.
- Anywhere: press Win + . to open the emoji & symbol picker, then search.
North West Arrow
A symbol from the Arrow Symbols collection. Click the symbol or the button below to copy.
- Symbol
- ↖
- Unicode
- U+2196
- HTML entity
- ↖
- Category
- Arrow Symbols
Export
Download North West Arrow as a vector SVG or a raster PNG.
SVG uses the system font stack — open in any vector editor and convert to outlines if needed. PNGs have a transparent background.
5 of 46 in the arrow symbols collection
About the north west arrow symbol
Representing a diagonal direction, ↖ is formally known as the North West Arrow. It is a typographic symbol categorized within the Arrows block of the Common script. In general conversation, it is typically read as north west arrow or simply as upper-left arrow, indicating a path halfway between the vertical and horizontal axes.
This symbol serves several practical purposes across modern digital and physical environments. In user interface design, it is frequently used in code or documentation to represent a back-to-top function or to indicate an expansion toward the corner of a screen. On physical signage and in video game interfaces, it provides clear navigation for diagonal movement or directional guidance. Additionally, social media users occasionally employ the arrow in posts to point toward a specific profile icon or a previously mentioned external link.
How to type North West Arrow
Native keyboard shortcuts for each operating system — derived from the codepoint, so the steps below are always accurate.
macOS
2 options- Enable “Unicode Hex Input” in System Settings → Keyboard, then hold Option and type 2196.
- Or: Control + Command + Space opens the Character Viewer — search by name.
Linux
1 step- Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2196, then press Enter or Space.
Copy in every format
Every form of this character — for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, URLs and more. Click any value to copy.
Text vs emoji presentation
This codepoint has two standardized presentations. Append U+FE0E to force the monochrome text form, or U+FE0F to force the colorful emoji form. Default presentation: text.
Part of the Arrows block
↖ north west arrow lives inside the Arrows Unicode block. Browse every indexed character in Arrows →
Related arrow symbols
Other arrow symbols you can copy and paste — explore similar Unicode characters from the same family.
- ←Leftwards ArrowCopy the leftwards arrow symbol→
- ↑Upwards ArrowCopy the upwards arrow symbol→
- →Rightwards ArrowCopy the rightwards arrow symbol→
- ↓Downwards ArrowCopy the downwards arrow symbol→
- ↗North East ArrowCopy the north east arrow symbol→
- ↘South East ArrowCopy the south east arrow symbol→
- ↙South West ArrowCopy the south west arrow symbol→
- ↔Left Right ArrowCopy the left right arrow symbol→
- ↕Up Down ArrowCopy the up down arrow symbol→
- ⇐Leftwards Double ArrowCopy the leftwards double arrow symbol→
- ⇑Upwards Double ArrowCopy the upwards double arrow symbol→
- ⇒Rightwards Double ArrowCopy the rightwards double arrow symbol→
More arrow symbols
Explore related collections
Browse other symbol families that pair well with arrow symbols.